Canada ‘Thinks the Unthinkable’ as Trump Strains Alliance With Allies, Analysts Say

Canada is grappling with what some analysts call “unthinkable” scenarios as President Donald Trump’s recent foreign policy actions — including threats to impose tariffs on traditional allies over the Greenland dispute — place strain on long-standing diplomatic relationships and force Ottawa to reassess key elements of its alliance strategies.

As Trump doubles down on demands that the U.S. should have a greater role in Greenland and uses economic pressure against NATO partners, foreign policy experts warn that Canada and other allied nations are confronting unprecedented challenges in navigating relations with Washington. While Canada has traditionally relied on shared values, collective security through NATO and cooperative trade frameworks with the United States, recent events have raised questions about the durability of these ties and whether Ottawa needs to rethink its approach to defence, trade and collective security. Analysts say the shift is driven by Trump’s willingness to link security issues with economic leverage, a tactic that has unsettled many in Canadian political and diplomatic circles who are accustomed to stable alliance behaviour.

In response, Canada has been engaging closely with other European nations to coordinate responses, reaffirm the principle of sovereign decision-making in matters like Greenland’s future, and explore ways to protect mutual interests without alienating the United States entirely. The debate also underscores broader concerns about the future of transatlantic cooperation, with officials and commentators cautioning that erosion of trust among allies could weaken collective efforts on issues ranging from Ukraine’s security to Arctic diplomacy. As a result, Ottawa is said to be “thinking the unthinkable” by considering deeper engagement with non-U.S. partners, diversifying strategic relationships and reinforcing its own defence and diplomatic capabilities — moves that signal a potential shift in Canada’s role on the global stage in an era of shifting geopolitical dynamics.